Combined article of household furniture



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l U.E.KUHN. COMBINED ARTICLE 0F HOUSEHULD FURNITURE.` y No. 597,989. Patented Jan. 25, 1898.

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(No Model.) 2 Smets-Sheet?. 0.B.KUHN. COMBINED ARTICLE 0F HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE.

Patented Jan. 25, 1898.

-W/TNESSES A TTOHNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT COMBINED ARTICLE OF HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE.

SFECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,989, dated January 2,5, 1898. Application tiled June 1, 1897. Serial No. 638,952. (No modell)4 To @ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLIE E. KUHN, of Johnstown,in the county of Cambria and State of Pen nsylvania,haveinvented a new and Improved Combined Article of Household Furniture, of Whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement iny combination articles of household furniture consisting of a bench adapted to be used to support tubs in Washing or for any other purpose, a step-ladder, a childs crib, anda support for an ironing-board or similar article.

The invention consists in the construction and novel arrangement of the various parts and details of the same, as will be hereinafter A in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is an end view, certain parts being shown in section. Fig. 4c is a perspective vievT of the step-ladder as used separated from the other parts; and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectionv through the pivoted ends of the step-ladder, showing the style of hinge used.

My invention is an improvement upon the device shown in the patent for a combined ironing-board, bench ,and ladder, No. 577, 693, granted February 23, 1897, to Villiain G. Rodgers and myself. It comprises end pieces and connecting-bars on the braces similar to those shown in said patent, which construction is such as will enable these parts to be folded when desired,as is fully illustrated and described in said patent. This frame consists of the corner-posts A, which are connected in pairs at the end by cross-bars B, three of these cross-bars being shown in each end frame. The two end frames are connected to each other by the diagonal braces C, which are pivotally connected to the bottom cross-bar of one frame and the middle crossbar of the other, crossing each other at their middle and provided at that point With a locking device. I

The locking device shown in the present application consists of a hook Cpivoted to one of bars B of the frame.

the bars or braces C and hooking into astaple C3 upon the other brace C, this portion of my device being in its general features the same as that shown in the patent above mentioned. The step-ladder Which is substituted for the ladder shown and described in said patent is of quite diierent construction. This ladder consists of two principal side bars E, which are connected by the cross bars or slats E', adapted to form steps for the ladder. The ends of these side bars are notched on one side, as at E2, so as to iit securely upon the crcssf These notches engage the bars and hold the ladder securely in place when it is used as a bench or as the bottom for a childs crib. The upper ends of the side bars E are slotted, and in this slot is fixed a plate e, which has a projecting iiange at its Outer end, upon which the side bars D of the braces forming the other half of the step-ladder are pivoted, the bars D being connected by the diagonal braces D. Within the upper ends of the bars D is also pivoted the bucket support or ledge formed bythe side bars Fand connecting-bars F. This frame is pivoted at f to the side bars D, and when the ladder is folded lies entirely Within and parallel to the side bars D. Upon one end of the side bars F is formed a-notch f2. A spring-bar F2 is fastened to the side of the bar F and covers the notch f2, said notch being adapted to engage the rod f', extending between the side bars E of the step-ladder. This arrangement securely holds the buclret-supporting frame in place, preventing its tipping, and also so that it acts as a brace to hold the two parts of the step-ladder at the proper angle.

When folded, the step-ladder occupies the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, being supported upon the central one of the cross-bars B in the end frames. The parts then form a bench or a bottoni when the device is used as a crib. The two upper cross-bars B are connected by vertical slats or bars B', which partially close the opening between the upper and central cross-bars B. This forms a head and foot piece for the crib. The sides of the crib are formed by the side slats, which are composed of the longitudinal bars G and the vertical connecting-bars G.

The outer side surfaces of the corner-posts are provided with slots ce', located one at the IOO upper end of the post and another at about the level of the ladder when in place. These slotsy are covered by bars or plates a, thus forming sockets for thereeeption of pins upon the side pieces. The side frames are provid ed with pins H and H', the former consisting of an S or Z shaped bar fixed to the lower side of the side bars and the latter of a U- shaped bar or pin attached tc the upper edge of the side bars. The downwardly-proj eating portions of these pins are dropped within the Y sockets formed by the plates a, thus holding the side framesin place. l These may be readily removed when it is desired to use the deviceas a bench or when it is to be folded for Vstowing ont of the way.

frames may be of Vany construction desired. The forni shown in the drawings and described herein is a preferred form.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- An article of manufacture comprising two Vend frames each having two posts connected by crossebars or rungs, diagonal braces piv oted thereto and locking to each other, removable sides, attachable to the end frames and a removable slatted bottom comprising two sets of side bars, each set pivoted at one Y end to the other, one set having run gs or slats thereon, a third frame pivoted intermediate its ends Within the side bars of the second set and having side notchesV formed in its side bars near one end, and a fiat spring fixed at one end to the side bars and covering the said notches by their free ends, and a cross rod upon the first set of side bars adapted to enter said notches, substantially as described.

CHARLIE E. KUHN.

Vitnesses: Y

M. B. STEPHENS,

WILLIAM GEORGE Renesse. 

